The Hearing Loss Association of California publishes a quarterly newsletter, “The Hearing Loss Californian.” If you are a member of the Hearing Loss Association of America and join a chapter in California, you will automatically receive this newsletter. It is also available online: http://www.hearinglossca.org/newsletter . The Fall 2013 issue has an excellent list of books about hearing loss compiled by Bruce Harris from the HLA-East Bay Chapter.

I never knew there were so many books about hearing loss for children! Follow the link to Children’s Books in the last item of this list. Kay Powell has compiled a wonderful annotated bibliography with links to Amazon to purchase the books.

There is more than one page of books – be sure to notice the menu bar at the top:Fiction Non-Fiction Sign Language Videos Misc.

These books are not just for children with hearing loss or children with a family member with hearing loss, but are excellent for increasing awareness of hearing loss and eliminating the stigma of wearing hearing aids – for any child or any classroom. If I were still teaching, I would definitely be adding to my library! In fact, I can hardly resist buying some now!

BOOKS about Hearing Loss

Children with Hearing Loss–A Family Guide byDavid Luterman, D.Ed, Editor

I just finished reading Monique Hammond’s new book, “What Did You Say? An Unexpected Journey Into The World of Hearing Loss.” I thought it was excellent! Hammond experienced a sudden, severe hearing loss in the fall of 2005 and wrote the book “….she wishes she had when she was coping with and trying to understand her own hearing loss.”

“What Did You Say?” combines her personal story with a comprehensive overview of many aspects of hearing loss. The book is well-written, well-researched, and easy to understand. I highly recommend it for anyone with concerns about hearing, whether you are newly diagnosed with hearing loss, you have a moderate progressive loss, a sudden severe loss, or you have been living with hearing loss for many years.

The book is divided into seven sections and they do not need to be read in order. If you are soon to purchase your first hearing aid, you could start with “Part Four – Hearing Instrument Basics: Styles, Technology, Sales.” If you are looking for an assisted listening device, go to “Part Five – Assisted Listening Devices; ASL; Speech Reading.” In the appendix are nine handy checklists such as “Selecting a Hearing Aid Vendor” and “Preparing for a Doctor Appointment Regarding Tinnitus.” Monique Hammond is a pharmacist and her medical background enhances her writing, especially the section on the anatomy and function of the ear and her description of ototoxic substances. You can also read Hammond’s article,“Making Sense of Ototoxicity” in the “Hearing Loss Magazine” March/April 2013 issue.

They can be used in noisy trade shows, outdoor presentations, on a bus, a cruise, campus tours, museums, lectures, manufacturing plants and many more places. The devices are easy to use and the sound clarity is phenomenal. Also excellent for translation services. Tell your favorite inaccessible museum about these excellent and affordable solutions!